Game device



(No Model.)

W. B. SEWARD.

GAME DEVICE.

Patented July 7, 1896.

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WITNESSES.

NOR ls PETERS 00., PNOTO-LITHON wlsnngm'pu. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAMSON B. SEIVARD, OF BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.

GAME DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,419, dated July 7, 1896.

Application filed August 29, 1896. Serial No. 560,908. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAMSON B. SEW- ARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of Monroe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to secure in that class of game devices having a revolving index hand or pointer operated by falling coin such a construction and arrangement as will preclude any tendency on the part of the hand to successively or con: tinuously stop at the same point. This I do by placing an adjustable deflector directly below the slot where the coin is inserted, having a balancing edge or apex located-exactly centrallybelow said slot, so that the coin, upon being introduced, is as likely to be deflected to one side of. said deflector as the other, and thus revolve the wheel in either direction, according to the direction the coin takes upon being introduced. Where, in machines of thischaracter, the coin is permitted to fall continuously on one side of the center, and thus cause the wheel to revolve always in the same direction, the tendency is, when the machine becomes somewhat worn, for the wheel to stop frequently at the same point, thus reducing the element of chance perceptibly. If, however, the wheel is revolved as frequently in one direction as the other, there is no such tendency.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my said invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view as seen when looking-in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view on the dotted lines 3 3 in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, a fragmentary view similar, generally, to the upper portion of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a perspective view of the adjustable deflector which is the leading feature of my present invention.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the case of the machine; B, a revoluble wheel within said case; 0, a hand or pointer mounted on the same shaft as the wheel; D, a trap-door onto which the coin primarily falls upon leaving the wheel; E, a drawer in which the coin is deposited when the trap-door is turned; F, the tube through which the coin is introduced, and G the deflector. All these parts except those at and near the point of introducing the coin are or may be of any usual or desired form of construction, and will not, therefore, be further described herein, except incidentally in describing the invention. The coin' chute or tube F is for some distance, preferably exceeding the diameter of the coin to be intro duced, directly vertical, so that a person in introducing the coin shall be unable to control the direction of its descent, said tube being also only a trifle greater in width than the coin itself, just sufficient to permit it a free passage. From the termination of this straight vertical portion this tube or chute diverges in each direction, as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and at. The deflector G is placed directly below and central of the vertical portion of the chute, so that its apex p is immediately and exactly below the center in width of said vertical portion, and forms the dividing partition between the diverging portions. It is held to position by a screw g, which passes through a slot therein and secures the same to the casing A. Obviously this deflector G can be accurately adjusted at any time by loosening the screw a trifle, slipping the deflector in one direction or the other by means of its slot, and again tightening the screw. It should be so adjusted when the machine is first made until by actual test I in introducing the coin the wheel revolves apparently as often in one direction as the other.

Should a tendency become apparent at any time, because of wear or otherwise, for the machine to revolve oftener in one direction than the other, such tendency can be easily corrected by adjusting this deflector, as will be readily understood.

The operation of the machine as a whole is as follows: A coin, as N, is introduced into the mouth a of the tube F, and descends-vertically a short distance, when it strikes the apex p of the deflector G, and falls thence down either the passage a or the passage a onto the wheel B and into the slot in the edge thereof, where it strikes one of the small bars I). The wheel, being perfectly balanced, is caused to revolve by the added weight of the coin. \Vhen the coin reaches the bottom of the wheel, it descends into the passage a and drops onto the trap-door D. Said trapdoor being operated by the lever d, the coin drops into the drawer E, whence it can be removed at pleasure. In Fig. 1 the index-face is shown bearing a large number of figures 1, five figures 2, and one figure '5. The chances, of course, in a preferably-ad-- adjusted machine are that the index hand or pointer when it steps will indicate a 'figure 1, but it has some chance to indicate a figure 2, and a still lesser chance to indicate the figure 5. Of course any series of numbers, figures, letters, or other-characters may be used, as desired, instead of those shown.

The apparatus is used principally in the sale of cigars and such like small articles. The purchaser inserts the price-usual1y a nickel -and it descends and revolves the wheel. If the point stops at a figure 1, he gets the article he has paid for; if by chance at a figure 2, he gets two of the articles, and should it stop at the figure 5 he gets five of the articles, in the arrangement illus trated. The purchaser, while always getting his article, hasa chance of receiving the larger value for his money, while the dealer depends for his compensation for the additionalarticles, and more profit, upon the increased business due to the attraction of the novel device.

My invention is for the purpose of additionally securing that the percentage of chance provided for in the construction of the machine shall not be disturbed or varied in use.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A game device consisting of a casing inclosing a revolving Wheel carrying an indicator, said casing being formed with an opening in its top of a form and size to receive a coin and leading into -a chute the sides of which are straight for a distance and then diverge to lead in both directions toward the sides of the casing, a deflector located with one of its points directly beneath the center of the opening, between said diverging sides of said chute, said wheel being formed with pockets in its periphery and mounted in said casing with said .pockets directly beneath said chute, whereby, asa coiuisdropped into said chute it may be deflected in either direction by said deflector and fall therefrom into a pocket on either side of said wheel and operate the same and the indicator carried thereby in either direction, all substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 27th day of August, A. D. 1895.

WlLliIAilISON B. SEWARD. -[L. 5.]

\Vitnesscs:

CHESTER BRADFORD, JAMES A. WALsn. 

